Transgender woman accused of stolen valor sentenced in Washoe County District Court

by News 4-Fox 11 Digital Staff

A transgender woman accused in a case of stolen valor has been sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.

The defendant, Kelsie Hoover, was accused of posing as a member of the military and using several aliases. Judge Patrick Flanagan sentenced her Thursday to 9-20 years in prison on five different counts, which include fraud, burglary and stolen valor, with the sentences to be served consecutively.

After beginning to undergo gender reassignment treatments several years ago, Hoover moved to Northern Nevada and got a job working at Sparks High School using the name Michael Cipriani.

An organization called Guardian of Valor posted a video to their website in 2015, showing Cipriani dressed in military uniform. After the video was published, Cipriani was asked to leave his job at Sparks High School.

Hoover is also accused of using a wheelchair while under the alias Michael Cipriani and claiming she suffered injures during combat.

Washoe County School District Police officer Karla Solferino testified in court on Thursday. She said Cipriani claimed to have a Purple Heart.

Hoover was also able to obtain Purple Heart license plates through the Nevada DMV using the Michael Cipriani alias.

She was tried as a female, but said in court on Thursday, "I want to be able to be a father and a husband."

Kelsie Hoover moved to Texas at the age of 18 where she began undergoing testosterone therapy. She said she later had a double mastectomy, but decided to stop the transition process.

Hoover was arrested in Oregon last year and extradited to Nevada for trial. She is being held at the Washoe County Jail. She was booked on Oct. 7, 2016.

According to the Washoe County District Attorney's office, she will not be eligible for parole until she has served seven years.